London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Pancras 1917

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras]

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34
The 5 patients who survived recovered completely, except for one man who
still suffers from pains in the back, giddiness and nervousness.
One case took its onset in December (1916), 6 in January, 1 in February,
1 in March, 6 in April, 2 in May, 1 in October, 2 in November, and 1 in
December.
12 cases were in females and 9 in males.
9 of the cases (7 fatal) were under 1 year of age, 4 (all fatal) between 1
and 5, 4 (3 fatal) between 5 and 15, and 4 (2 fatal) over 15.
In 14 of the 21 cases the diagnosis was confirmed by identification of the
meningococcus (in at least 6 cases grown in pure culture) in the cerebrospinal
fluid during life (13) or from the brain post mortem (1). In 3 cases the
germ was not found, in 3 there was no examination, and in 1 ease there
is no information.
No connection between the cases and no source of infection was traced, and
in no intance was there more than one case in a house. No part of the
borough was specially affected. All the patients were of the working class.
MEASLES AND GERMAN MEASLES.
All cases of these diseases are notifiable by parents and guardians, but only
the first case occurring in an outbreak in a household or institution is notifiable
by medical practitioners, an interval of two months since the last case constituting
a new outbreak.
Subject to correction for diagnosis in certain instances, 3,681 civil cases of
measles, and 609 of german measles were notified or otherwise discovered in
1917. This represents an incidence rate of 19.7 per 1,000 civil population for
measles and 3.3 for german measles.
118 deaths from measles were registered during the year, equal to a deathrate
of 0.63 per 1,000 civil population, and a case mortality rate of 3.2 per cent,
amongst the notified cases. There was one death certified as due to german
measles.

The cases were notified or reported as follows:—

Measles.German measles.
Notified by medical practitioners2619535
,, parents and guardians73651
Discovered otherwise32623
3681609

Further statistical facts in regard to the cases will be found on pages 13-14.
Practically every case has been visited without delay by one of the women
visitors, and this has much reduced the amount of ordinary infant visiting
that they have been able to do. In every case, also, a card of advice and a
printed postcard form of notification (unstamped) have been sent to the
parent's home.